Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray and Essex Fells Police Chief Vincent Kulik announced today that John Mekell, Jr., 46, has been charged with the murder of his father, John Mekell Sr., 69, both of Essex Fells.
At approximately 3:45 a.m. on Sunday, June 30, 2013, Essex Fells Police officers were summoned to Fellscrest Road on a call of a suicidal male on the lawn of the residence. Upon arrival, police found Mekell, Jr., holding a knife to his throat and threatening to kill his self. After the officers talked him out of harming himself, Mekell Jr. informed them that his father was in need of help inside the house.
The officers found the father on the kitchen floor with severe head trauma. A bloodstained hammer was also found at the scene. The senior Mekell was transported to Morristown Medical Center and the younger Mekell was taken into custody and charged by police with aggravated assault and possession of a weapon.
Today those charges were upgraded to murder after the father succumbed to his injuries on Sunday, July 14, 2013.
Bail has been set at $350,000 by the Honorable Peter J. Vazquez, J.S.C. The investigation is being handled by the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide/Major Crimes Task Force and the Essex Fells Police. There is no other information available at this time.
These charges are accusations only. All defendants are presumed innocent unless or until they plead guilty or are found guilty beyond a reasonable double in a court of law.
